dailykos.com: Judge: 'I am more concerned with Sheriff Arpaio's willingness to tell the truth'

27.11.15

Judge: 'I am more concerned with Sheriff Arpaio's willingness to tell the truth': [dailykos.com] Short version: Arpaio was contacted by a known con artist in Seattle named Dennis Montgomery, who earlier had bilked the government of millions by fraudulently claiming he could decipher secret messages in Al Jazeera broadcasts. A computer guru, Montgomery told the sheriff he had evidence that Judge Snow was part of a conspiracy to bring down Arpaio. Supposedly, the Phoenix News Times revealed in 2014, the plot also included AG Eric Holder, former Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon, and other Arpaio enemies. He couldn’t resist. The sheriff’s office sent deputies to Seattle to work with Montgomery, paying him $100,000 to $250,000 to turn over evidence that Arpaio’s team later called “junk.” There was no plot; it was just another scam, this one playing on the sheriff’s paranoia.

But it was Arpaio’s willingness to enter into the deal, and then lie about it on the stand, that has Judge Snow in a tizzy. It also doesn’t help the sheriff’s case that Judge Snow’s wife was caught up in this bizarre investigation.